If your GPA is high and you're atheletic, but your dad is super rich, should you take a football scholarship?

Justin Combs, son of very, very rich rapper/actor Sean "Diddy" Combs, didn't take the high road and refuse UCLA'S offer of a free scholarship.

As Chuck Schilken writes in the L.A. Times, "The son of a man reportedly worth more than half a billion dollars probably should not have been offered a free ride from the cash-strapped university and, moreover, should not have accepted it."

Comments:

Arguably, Lee, it is better to have someone who is ideologically inconsistent and loyal to his kin then the reverse.

Posted By: jason taylor on June 05, 2012 9:32 PM

I think your case is stronger if you add Combs Sr.'s criticism of President Obama for not doing enough to help the underprivileged. Capitalism for me, but socialism for thee?

And the argument that this money could either go to Combs Jr. or to no one just doesn't make sense to me.

But I note that the scholarship money will cover only one year of tuition for an out-of-state New Yorker. Maybe dear old dad will have to cough up for years 2 thru 4, especially in the event of an injury (God forbid).

Posted By: LeeQuod on June 05, 2012 8:34 PM

Thanks Kevin and others for your response. I'll think on this matter a bit more. I might have the wrong take.

Posted By: Kim Moreland on June 05, 2012 4:07 PM

The difference between us and Justin Combs is miniscule compared to the difference between us and the rest of the world and none of us are denying ourselves the accidental advantages that come thereby. Give him a break.

Posted By: jason taylor on June 04, 2012 11:17 PM

Are any of us planning to move to Burma where there are no scholarships at all, pray tell?

Posted By: jason taylor on June 04, 2012 8:08 PM

This one not only gets a "REALLY!?!" but a "Good grief!" as well.

Makes you wonder if P-Diddy's celebrity status got him that scholarship in the first place...

Posted By: Anthony Loreno on June 04, 2012 5:20 PM

I'll have to disagree with you on this one, Kim. It's one thing to question spoiled kids being given everything by their rich parents. This, however, is about someone working his tail off for something and being justly rewarded. He could have turned it down, but maybe he likes the idea of earning his way through UCLA rather than having Dad pay for it. Some would say that this is to be admired.

Gil Meche turned down the money because he thought he could no longer be effective enough to deserve it. That's quite different.

Posted By: Kevin V on June 04, 2012 4:12 PM

The kid earned it

The kid earned it and deserves it. He chose UCLA because he got offered a scholarship. He got other offers too and chose the school he wanted to attend.

Who cares who his dad is. A scholar athlete earned a scholarship for his achievements, not his father's. Did Peyton Manning or his brother Eli have to pay for their tuition? It's not like there father former NFL quarterback Archie Manning couldn't afford to buy their books.